Recuperator



- April 12,1927.

W. O. AMSLER REGUPERATOR Filed Sept. 27, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR A 1,624,128 f 1927' w. o. A MSLER RECUPERATOR Filed Sept. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Slieet 2 FIG. 2

Patented Apr. 12, 1927.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER 0. AMSLER, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMSLERr- MORTON COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH SYLVANIA.

, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- RECUPERATOR.

Application filed September This invention is for a recuperative furnace, and relates particularly to an improved recuperator andtiles for use in the same.

In recuperative furnaces, the waste gases are passed from the furnacearound pipes, through which. air being supplied to the burner passes, whereby the air is heated prior to combustion. It is customary in recuperators to provide passages around the air pipes through which the waste gases,

pass, so that the gases :follow a given path, rather than circulate around those pipes which most need the heat. The air pipes are generally disposed vertically and the waste gas passages are horizontal, with vertical connections to provide asomewhat sinuous path of travel for the gases. f

With such. an arrangement, some of the pipes are heated a great deal more intensely than others. The most highlyheated pipes induce the greatest flow of air. As a greater flow of air means a higher velocity, the air is less thoroughly heated, but the cooling effect is great, so that heat is absorbed as rapidly as it is supplied, and less heat reaches the other pipes.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a recuperator 111 whichthe gases have a more or less free circulation around the pipes, With .this arrangement, if one'pipe tends to become 'hotter than the others, laws of convectlon divert their flow to cooler parts of the chamber through which they pass. Consequently, other pipes become heated, while that which was receiving most heat 1s cooled by the I greater volume of air induced through 1t. I therefore obtain a stabilized condition, which maintains a substantially constant flow through each pipe, with a correspond-- ing even distribution of heat, resultlng in an even heating of the air with a maximum absorption of heat from the waste gases.

Further objects of my invention are to provide an improved tile structure forming the interior of the recuperator.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

' Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through a recuperatorembodying my invention and a portion of a furnace;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section across a por- 27,1922. Serial 1:... 590,980.

tion of the recuperator, the tiles being shown 7 on a larger scale and slightly separated, for purposes of illustration, the section being taken in the plane of line II'-',-I I of, Fig. 3;

. Flg. 3 is a vertical section, on'a larger scale, of a portion of the recuperator;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section across one of the bottom tiles; and t lFig. 5 is a top view of one of the bottom.

In the drawings, A indicates a furnace into which burner B communicates. The burner is of anywell known or preferred construction, and includes 'a mixer passage 5 intpl which air passage. 6 and gas passage 7 ea The air passage 6 leads to a chamber 8 in the top of a recuperator structure C. This structure'includes refractory vertical walls 9,, enclosing a chamber of suitable dimensions, 1 and having a bottom wall 10. The bottom part of the chamber enclosed by these walls 18 div ded'by partitions 11,.between which are air passages 12 leading from a \conduit 13.

At the top of vertical walls 11, and par- 30 t ally supported thereby, is a horizontal partition comprised of suitable blocks or tiles 1?, preferably square, of refractory material, as shown in Figs. 4 and'5. Each block 14 has a. central opening 15 which is prefers5 ably substantially square, and around the hole in the top face of the block is a recessed shoulder 16. The blocks preferably have a rib or tongue 17 on two sides thereof, and a correspondingly shaped groove on the other two sides thereof. The -tongue on one block extends into the groove of an adjacent one, to provide a seal. The hole 15 of each block is positioned oven an air passage 12.

Set on the recessed shoulder 16*of each block, is a relatively short length of hollow pipe,'b lock, or tile 18 of refractory material, having a cross sectional shape simllar to that of the shoulder, and adapted to fit snugly in the recess, asclearly shown'in Fig. 3. If desired, refractory cement may be used-to insure a tight joint." Each block '18 preferably has a transverse. web 19 extending throughout the length thereof, and which is preferably'a little longer than the pipe.

Resting on the top of each block or pipe 18, is a horizontal spacing and joining block or tile 20. Each block 20 has an opening 21 therethrough, of the same size as the opening in blocks 14 and the passage in pipes 18. In

I claim as my invention 2 1. A recuperator comprising a vertical even heating of the air. 7 I

The shape of the tiles is such that they charging-same from the chamber, said chamtrated,

each face of the tiles 20, concentric with the chamber having a plurality of vertical reopening, is a recess, into which the ends of tractory pipes extending therethrough,means tiles 18 snugly fit to form a tightjoint, pipes for introducing hot gases at the top of the 18 also being placed above and supported on chamber, means for withdrawing gases from blocks 20. the bottom thereof, said chamber being rela- The blocks 20 are provided with lateral tively open whereby the gases may freely projections 22, preferably extending oiitcirculate about the pipes and flow down wardly from each corner of the block. The through the chamber to effect an even disprojections abut' against one another and tribution of heat. against the side walls of the recuperatoi', to 2. A recuperator comprising a chamber keep the pipes in proper spaced relation. enclosed in vertical walls, a pluraity of-pipes The interior of the chamber is thus built extending longitudinally through the chamup of sections of pipe 18, held in position her and comprised of relatively short secin spacing blocks 20 until the pipes are of tions of hollow tile, transversely disposed sufficient length. 'At the upper part of encentrally apertured blocks interposed beclosure is a partition 24: formed of blocks twee'n ends of each section having recesses 14 similar to those at the bottom of the pipes, therein into which the pipe sections fit, and and above this is abrick wall 25, to ensure spacing means on some of the blocks for suflicient strength and sealing of the gases. holding them in position and providing in- This partition separates the recuperator tervening openings toallow gases to circuchamber from chamber 8, with which the late between the blocks. vertical air pipes communicate. 3. A recuperator comprising a chamber The projections 22 on blocks 20 keep the enclosedv in vertical walls, a plurality of blocks spaced apart so that gases are free plpes extending longitudinally through the to circulate aroundthe pipes and through the chamber and comprised of reatively short chamber, following no specified path of Sections of hollow tile, blocks interposed betravel. An important advantage of this tween ends of each section having openings construction is that the exterior of the pipes therethrough in alinement with the openings are exposed to heat on all'sides. The centhrough the hollow tiles, said blocks serving tral web 19 in eachpipe, being longer than to keep the pipe sections spaced on all sides the pipe, contacts at each end with the web from one another, and means on some of the 'I of the pipe above and below it to assume the blocks providing passageways for allowing weight of the pipe, and thereby relieve the gases to circulate longitudinally through the heated outer walls of the pipe" of much of chamber around the pipes and between the this load. I I l s- In operation, hot waste gases are drawn 4. recuperator comprising a chamber, a from the furnace through passages not plurality of p pes extending longitudinally shown, but in a manner well understood in therethrough, said pipes being comprised of the ,art, and introduced into the recuperator aplurality of relatively short. lengths of holthrough a passage 28 just below partition 24:. 1 W tile placed end to end, blocks having The hot gases pass downwardly around pipes openings therethrough in alinement with the 18 and between blocks 20fto the lower' part passages through the hollow tiles interposed of the recuperator, where they escape between the ends of the hollow blocks, an through passage 26 into chimney flue 27. providing a series of transverse spacing As the ases have a relatively open cham Walls for maintaining the pipes in sp d her in which to circulate around, the pipes, latlOn 11 ll Sides from adjacent pipes, and are not confined to a definite limited means I1 S id blocks whereby passages are path, they are free to always flow toward formed in the transverse walls to allow the the coolest part of the recuperator. Consefree circulation of gases longitudinally ntl if one a t f th h b r t d to therethrough, and inlet and outlet means become hotter than the other, inducing an hro gh which hot waste gases may be inunequal flow of air upwardly throughthe troduced and removed. i pipes; the gases will naturally flow toward, 5. In a recuperator, a chamber, a pluralthe cooler part of the chamber, thereby asity of longitudinally extending refractory suring an even distribution of heat and an pipes for air disposed in the chamber, means for introducing heating gases to and discan be easily and cheaply molded and easily her being relatively open to permit a free installed. The tiles might be used in other circulation of the gases in a longitudinal diair heating devices than rec'uperators and rection throughout the chamber and around are adapted for difierent constructions of said pipes. furnaces other than that specifically illus- In testimony whereof I atfix my signature,

WALTER"G SLER. 

